When All’s Said and Done, Is Politics That Important?

The last time I walked upon and looked under the Beesley’s Point Bridge it was cold but sunny on Dec. 30, 2008. That was after a grand “photo op” with local, county and state bigwigs. They all stood tall and smiled with confidence, like a guy who finally won a date with his sought-after love.
They all agreed that this bridge was as necessary to Cape May County’s well being as water to a fish’s survival. And such a bargain it was: $1. That’s right, just like everything in a dollar store: one dollar, 100 pennies, 10 dimes, 20 nickels, four quarters or two halves.
Of course, not all the freeholders were present. That would have been a violation of the Sunshine Law, so Director Daniel Beyel and Freeholder Ralph Bakley Sr. were there as was County Administrator Stephen O’Connor, County Engineer Dale Foster, Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman Nelson Albano (both D-1st).
I remember our late Editor Joe Zelnik admonishing us to look around a room, especially one filled with politicians, and make a mental note of who was there and, more importantly, who was absent.
In this case, one of those absent was Freeholder Gerald Thornton.
Although Thornton had no crystal ball in which to gaze, he glanced at that rickety bridge and turned his thumb down on the county taking ownership. He was the only one of his peers to shake his head and scowl at that terrific “bargain.”
At a projected $20-million tab to spruce up the 80-year-old span, Thornton must have felt it like buying an old Buick parked in a flood zone for 50 years for $50,000, the façade might be nice, but the guts needed replacing.
When a room filled with suits from all levels extolled the virtues of the bridge deal on Dec. 9, 2008 at the county Administration Building, Thornton declared, “I never said this bridge should not be open. The bridge should be open but it’s the state’s responsibility for the safety of residents of Cape May County. They (state) have not accepted their responsibility in four years when the bridge was closed all of a sudden. The bridge should not be closed, it should be open.”
Shortly before 8 p.m. that day, Thornton cast the lone vote against the bridge takeover, and that, as they say, is that. That vote was like the glancing brush of Titanic against the fateful iceberg.
From that moment on, it seems, icy water has rushed in below the waterline to sink Thornton. Zelnik would likely have headlined the Republican’s demise “fratricide.” Well it might be, since the Grand Old Party seems to this independent voter a bit tarnished at the latest machination, all being done in the name of “New Direction.”
What bothers me about this official shunning of a loyal, longtime (26 years, but who’s counting?) party guy, is that it undercuts why anybody should be honest and trustworthy and loyal, especially to a political party.
Thornton was the one chap on the freeholder board who worked for and contributed to the campaigns of at least one of those men actively engaged in ushering him to the door.
If that’s “new direction,” who would want any part of such a movement? Thornton, with his time in service, is no neophyte to political games, but he is still bothered by the “payback” that came his way, attributed, in his own words, to that non-support of the bridge buy.
Thornton has many allies in the Republican ranks. They may think his shunning in favor of endorsing John McCann for election and Freeholder Ralph Bakley Sr. for reelection is wrong, but cannot say it in public. Telling the party chieftains the truth might compromise their jobs or appointments, still, they know what’s right and what’s wrong.
Thornton, a retired Gallo wine salesman, likely raised a glass or two of his favorite vino and smiled as a warm feeling of vindication swept over him, like real high tide over that low-lying bridge.
That’s because recently it was estimated that the $20 million price tag to fix the Beesley’s Point Bridge was just a tad low. Now it’s something like $32 million. By the time all the adding machine tape fills the floor and the job is done, (if we live that long), even the $32 million might seem like chump change.
But, cheer up, thing’s aren’t as bad as they seem. Look at what we’re going to get some bright day in the future: that’s right, a two-lane span to Atlantic County on Route 9.
A wiser than us Atlantic County wouldn’t kick in a buck to help pay the freight on the bridge, so it’s ours, all ours for years and years and years.
By that time, Jerry Thornton and this writer will be long gone and forgotten from the scene. Whoever is in control of things in decades hence may look back in amazement and wonder why anybody cared.
If that ever happens, I sincerely hope someone reads between the lines, and realizes that what is really needed, then as now, is more people like Thornton who have a conscience, are loyal to a fault and guts enough to stick to what they believe is right, even if it costs them their fleeting role on the stage of life in Cape May County.
There are more valuable things in life than politics. I believe Gerald Thornton understands that right now.